Survey Reveals Opinions For ‘Aesthetic Ideal’ Breasts

By Lisajane Davies

A new study has revealed people’s opinions regarding the ‘aesthetic ideal’ of the breast.

Dr. Patrick Mallucci of The Cadogan Clinic and Dr. Olivier Branford of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust surveyed 1,315 people – including men, women, and plastic surgeons – asking them to look at photos of different breasts and pick the proportions they liked best.

The winning ratio across all three groups: 45:55, as in 45% of breast tissue falls above the nipple line and 55% below. This is a “natural” shape rather than larger surgically enhanced breasts.

While both genders overwhelming preferred the 45:55 ratio, 90% of men selected this proportion versus 82% of women.

“This suggests that men actually prefer more natural appearing breasts than do women,” the doctors conclude in the Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

“This is in stark contrast to previously misplaced assumptions that men prefer oversized or ‘fake’ breasts, a view that has long been held as a clichéd interpretation of male preference.”

Through their study, doctors Branford and Mallucci hope to ‘take the guess work out of remedial and reconstructive surgery’ by changing how breast augmentation is performed in a way that respects the natural shape.

On top of providing doctors with a framework for delivering excellent outcomes, what they hope this study will do is open up a dialogue about the way cosmetic surgery is viewed.

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